“Oh. A guest invited by Yeo Reum.”

Mi Rae said with a slight smile.

“Isn’t it admirable?”

“How did Yeo Reum contact Director Do Jae Kyung?”

Bo Mi’s head was full of questions.

“That person is extremely busy. He’s not someone who would come to a place like this…”

Within the Do Won Group, Jae Kyung’s time was practically valued in monetary terms. It was unbelievable that such a person was leisurely riding a merry-go-round with her child.

“Oh. The business card he received last time. Yeo Reum begged to call the number on it.”

Mi Rae seemed to have no wariness towards Jae Kyung.

“So he made the call?”

“Yeo Reum made the call, I just lent him my phone.”

Mi Rae grinned, making a V sign.

“Mi Rae. How could you let the child do that?”

“Why are you getting angry? Didn’t he introduce himself as your friend? At least that’s what he seems to think, right?”

“It’s not like that. I’m not angry…”

Seeing Mi Rae’s innocent face, Bo Mi felt deflated.

“We’re not that kind of relationship.”

Neither Do Jae Kyung nor Han Bo Mi could be friends to each other.

‘Bo Mi, I like you.’

She recalled the night she pushed him away, frightened by those dark eyes that seemed to pierce through to her heart.

‘To me, Do Jae Kyung is not a man.’

If Jae Kyung truly wasn’t a man to Bo Mi, they might have been able to be friends…

In her dreams these past few days, a man who might be Nak Won or Jae Kyung appeared. The ending of those dreams inevitably featured Jae Kyung. It was too sweet a fantasy to be considered a terrible nightmare. That’s why it was unbearably sad and made her cry.

‘Mom. Mom. Why are you crying?’

Yeo Reum, woken by the alarm, looked down with a worried expression.

‘Your father… I miss him.’

‘Should I call Dad for you?’

‘No. Having just you is enough.’

Bo Mi murmured, holding Yeo Reum in her arms.

It had been a week since Bo Mi had seen Jae Kyung. At the company, it was difficult to face him except during report meetings for the Paradisus project’s augmented reality team.

Throughout the meeting, a strange disappointment arose in a corner of her heart at his cold profile that didn’t even give Bo Mi a glance.

‘Even if it’s as a substitute for a dead man, I want to beg him to look at me, not that man…’

No one in the meeting room would know that Do Jae Kyung was capable of saying such things.

Bo Mi spent days pondering over every word Jae Kyung had thrown at her, while Jae Kyung remained unchanged, which angered her.

Why did you shake me up like this…

“Unnie! Unnie! You should wave. Yeo Reum is coming!”

Yeo Reum, wearing a Gigaton robot hoodie and hat, waved his hand with a broad smile. As Yeo Reum moved, Jae Kyung gently adjusted the hat that was about to fall off.

Jae Kyung looked up and his eyes met with Bo Mi, who was awkwardly waving. His dark eyes spread beneath gently curved eyelids. A man who looked exactly like Yeo Reum was staring at Bo Mi with the same smile as Yeo Reum.

Bo Mi’s eyes grew hot.

“Wow… Looking at them like this, they really look like a real family. Who would know they’re not related?”

“Don’t you dare say such things in front of the Director.”

“Unnie, you’re really old-fashioned about these things. As you said, why would such a busy person make time to respond to a child’s invitation?”

“What do you mean…”

“It means he’s interested.”

Why was Mi Rae so perceptive at times like this?

“In Yeo Reum?”

“Don’t try to dodge. Come on, unnie. Is there something between you and Jae Kyung oppa…”

Bo Mi denied it, but couldn’t help feeling flushed.

“Oh oh. Here they come. Jae Kyung oppa! Over here.”

“What are you calling the Director? Jae Kyung oppa, really.”

“You can call him that too if you want.” Right? There’s something between you, isn’t there? A budding romance!”

“No…”

“Sigh… I swear.”

Bo Mi pinched the bridge of her nose, furrowing her brow. She needed to hear directly from Do Jae Kyung what this situation was all about.

“Mom!”

“Yeo Reum! Slow down. It’s dangerous.”

As Yeo Reum hurried to run over, he stumbled on something and staggered. Just as Bo Mi was about to run over in surprise, Jae Kyung supported Yeo Reum’s chest with one hand and lifted him up lightly.

“Mister, thank you.”

As Jae Kyung embraced Yeo Reum, the child twisted his body slightly.

“Mister. Ung. You can put me down. Yeo Reum is not a baby.”

Yeo Reum grumbled, puffing his cheeks like a hamster, seemingly embarrassed to be held in front of his mom and Aunt Mi Rae. Jae Kyung smiled, finding Yeo Reum’s behavior cute.

Bo Mi had only seen his stiff face at work, but now she realized Do Jae Kyung was a person who smiled a lot. She couldn’t take her eyes off the scene, as if mesmerized.

“Right. Yeo Reum is not a baby, but a man.”

“A cool man. Like Dad… Oh right. Mister, let’s ride that too!”

“Han Yeo Reum.”

Bo Mi called out in a stern voice as Yeo Reum was pestering Jae Kyung, pointing at another ride.

Yeo Reum knew that when his mom used that tone, he could be in trouble.

What did Yeo Reum do wrong?

He even called the mister because he wanted to see Dad…

Yeo Reum clung to Jae Kyung like a koala, not wanting to be scolded by Bo Mi. He believed that the mister would protect him from his mom.

The mister doesn’t seem to want to reveal his identity yet, but Yeo Reum knows who he is.

‘Yeo Reum, I’m sorry. Mom will be right back once this work is done.’

When mom said she wanted to postpone going to Gigaton Land this morning after receiving an urgent call, Yeo Reum thought of his father’s existence.

Mom is always busy and finds it hard to spend time with Yeo Reum. But if it were Dad…

‘Mister. It’s me, Yeo Reum.’

‘…Is something wrong?’

‘Are you free today?’

Jae Kyung was surprised when he actually received a call, even though he had given his personal contact card to the child.

Does Bo Mi know that the child called?

Jae Kyung rubbed his lips, lost in thought for a moment. This might be an opportunity to get closer to Han Bo Mi.

‘There’s somewhere I want to go with you, mister…’

‘Where shall we meet?’

If it’s a date request, of course I should accept.

Unaware of Jae Kyung’s inner thoughts, Yeo Reum was excited at the fact that Dad was coming.

The mister really was Dad on vacation from heaven. That’s why he wants to celebrate Yeo Reum’s birthday together.

‘Let’s keep it a secret from Mom that we called Jae Kyung oppa today.’

Mi Rae and Yeo Reum’s secret was exposed to Bo Mi before even half a day had passed.

“Han Yeo Reum. Come here.”

“…Yes, Mom.”

“The Director must be tired, so let’s play with Mom now.”

Bo Mi intended to separate Yeo Reum from Jae Kyung and send him away.

She knew better than anyone that it was right not to get entangled with Jae Kyung, regardless of the emotion and excitement she felt.

“Mister, are you tired now?”

“No.”

Jae Kyung answered Yeo Reum, ignoring Bo Mi’s gaze.

“Director! We need to talk.”

“Yeo Reum, I think Mom is angry.”

As Jae Kyung tattled to Yeo Reum with a sly expression, Bo Mi felt her blood boil.

“Mom. The mister is my guest. I asked him to play with me. The mister didn’t do anything wrong, and neither did Yeo Reum, so don’t be angry.”

Yeo Reum urgently spread his arms in front of Jae Kyung, trying to protect him from Bo Mi.

Bo Mi bit her lip to suppress a laugh at the child’s desperate expression. Composing herself, she bent down to meet Yeo Reum’s eye level.

“No, Yeo Reum. Mom and the mister just need to have a conversation.”

“…Mom. Are you trying to make up with the mister?”

Yeo Reum had noticed the awkwardness between his mom and the mister.

“Mister…”

Yeo Reum looked up at Jae Kyung with eyes seeking permission to step aside.

“Yeo Reum, can you ask Mom if she wants to talk to make friends with the mister?”

As Yeo Reum nodded, Bo Mi furrowed her brow and glared at Jae Kyung.

“Director! What are you trying to do using the child…”

“Ah. Yeo Reum, Mom is getting angry.”

Jae Kyung teased Bo Mi as he held Yeo Reum’s shoulders. Yeo Reum blocked Bo Mi’s path more firmly, widening his eyes.

“Mom, are you angry?”

“No, I’m not angry. I said the Director was a friend, right? It’s just a joke.”

Bo Mi rolled her eyes at Jae Kyung, annoyed.

“Director. Please stop hiding behind the child.”

Bo Mi threatened, but Jae Kyung was simply enjoying the situation. Every moment of discovering Bo Mi’s different faces was a joy to Jae Kyung.

“We’re friends, but you won’t even call me by name.”

Yeo Reum, reacting to Jae Kyung’s complaint tinged with disappointment, stared up at Bo Mi.

This man really…

“Do Jae Kyung. Let’s talk.”

“Yes, Bo Mi. I welcome conversation anytime.”

“You two are friends now, right?”

“Yes, Yeo Reum. The mister will talk with Mom for a bit, so go buy something delicious with Aunt Mi Rae using this.”

As Jae Kyung took out a card and held it out, Mi Rae received it with lightning speed.

“Wow… I’ve never seen a card like this in real life. Jae Kyung oppa really is rich.”

Mi Rae marveled, rubbing the oddly shimmering card that wasn’t even black with her fingers.

“Jae Kyung, don’t do this. Mi Rae, give that back and use my card…”

As Bo Mi tried to take out her card from her bag, Jae Kyung grabbed her hand and nodded to Mi Rae. Mi Rae nodded back, took Yeo Reum’s hand, and disappeared into the crowd like smoke. Bo Mi could only watch with her mouth open, amazed at the teamwork of these three people.

“Where shall we talk?”

“First, let go of my hand.”

Instead of letting go, Jae Kyung pulled her closer and adjusted his grip.

“There are a lot of people.”

“Let go of my hand…”

“They say to hold tight onto things you don’t want to lose.”

‘Hold tightly onto things you don’t want to lose.’

It was what Nak Won had said when he kissed the back of Bo Mi’s hand.

“Yeo Reum told me.”

It was what Bo Mi had said to Yeo Reum when she bought him a new Gigaton badge to replace the one he had lost. It felt like waves crashing in. The fierce waves washed away the footprints Nak Won had left. On the quiet beach where everything had been swept away, only Jae Kyung’s footprints remained.

Bo Mi, afraid of all these changes, couldn’t look directly at Jae Kyung.

“Director.”

“You agreed to call me Jae Kyung.”

“That’s…”

Jae Kyung narrowed his eyes as if being coy. The gentle scent emanating from Jae Kyung in his white polo shirt, along with his relaxed attitude, tickled Bo Mi’s heart.

Bo Mi sighed as if giving up.

“The name doesn’t matter. Jae Kyung. So why did you come today?”

“Because Yeo Reum invited me.”

“That’s… The Director Do Jae Kyung I know was a very busy person who managed his schedule down to the minute even on weekends, so I’m asking why you’re here playing with someone else’s child.”

Bo Mi spoke without taking a breath.

“I told you I was uncomfortable, but you didn’t listen to me at all. So at least… you shouldn’t do this to me, Jae Kyung.”

“What shouldn’t I do? Use my day off as I please?”

The heat seemed to rise from their intertwined hands.

“You shouldn’t come just because a naive child calls you. We shouldn’t be holding hands like this either.”

“There are too many things we shouldn’t do. Han Bo Mi…”

Jae Kyung let out a deep sigh.

“Then what can we do?”

“…Nothing.”

Gigaton Land was bustling with people out for a weekend outing. A group of people bumped into Bo Mi as they passed by. Jae Kyung pulled Bo Mi closer as she was jostled by the crowd. As they turned behind a pillar, they found themselves alone in a narrow space.

“Han Bo Mi.”

The man’s heartbeat was racing as fast as Bo Mi’s.

“Do you really not know why I came here?”

Jae Kyung’s voice softly resonated above Bo Mi’s head.